Finding love when you are broke and homeless

In a world where phrases like "fake it until you make it" are thrown around to justify the lengths to which people go to live fake lives, it can be difficult to determine what is real and what is not, especially when it comes to finding love.

I mean, let's face it, we all have a story to tell when it comes to finding love and that special someone.

However, there are a few of us who have been able to find their lifelong partners. 

For example, Susan Muthoni Nderitu's life has been anything but easy, but her journey to finding love reminds us that love thrives against all odds.

Living on the streets from the age of 11, Muthoni's childhood was marked by hardship.

Life presented her with many challenges as she grew into a young woman, and as a street kid, finding love was the least of her worries.

But love found her when she least expected it.

"I met my partner on the street in 2020, two years after I settled in Nakuru at Pinkam House. Before I met him, I was in a relationship that never worked out. You know, when you're on the streets, so many people are out to take advantage of young girls. That made me afraid of men," she says with a smile.

It was during this time that she met her partner, Peter Muchiri. 
She saw that his intentions for her were genuine, but what really attracted her to him was how protective he was of her and how he accepted her despite her many faults.

They've been together ever since and now have two children, a two-year-old and a four-month-old. The couple have been able to turn their lives around, moving away from the streets and renting a house in Free Area.

Despite the ups and downs, she is grateful for the way her life has turned out.

"We never have much in the way of fancy dates, but my partner used to take me to the fence of Nakuru National Park, where we would take in the sights from the outside and later have street food. Maybe today will be the same," she says excitedly, adding that she's been promised that they'll go for a walk after work and maybe have the same surprise or do something different to commemorate the day.

"Hapa kuna mapenzi moto! Ukitaka kuona mapenzi moto ipo, ingine hatari na yenye imejaa wivu," says Muthoni.

Muthoni's message to everyone celebrating Valentine's Day is; "wapendanao nawaambia mtu ashike mpoa wake vizuri kwa sababu kusema ukweli ndio upate mtu anakupenda ni ngumu sana because a lot of people out here can pretend to love you but are only interested in what you have to offer," says Muthoni.